Abu Dhabi Championship - Winner Betting Odds

Many of the world’s top golfers are getting back to work this week in the Abu Dhabi Championship. For a January event there is something of a stellar lineup with all four winners of last year’s majors in action. Two of them, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer, are well placed and hotly fancied by the bookies after decent opening rounds.

US Open champion McDowell fired a 66 to sit well-placed two shots off the lead and can still be backed at 11/2 with StanJames. US PGA winner Kaymer is favoured even more by the bookies despite being one shot further back. This is hardly surprising when factored in that the German, ranked three in the world, is also the defending champion in the Emirates’ capital. He’s still available at 5/1 with Bet365, BoyleSports and StanJames.

Early frontrunner Charl Schwartzel (65) is the most marginal of favourites with odds of 22/5 at WBX. The best price offered on the South African is the same as Kaymer though - 5/1 at William Hill, Bet365 and SkyBet.

World number one Lee Westwood is on -3 (five shots back) and after holing a 15-foot putt on the last he can’t be ruled out. The Englishman is 11/1 with most of the market including Betfred and VictorChandler. For those who want a punt on a top player who could be returning to form, Padraig Harrington has started well and could fit the bill. The Irishman shot an excellent 65 to lie second and is currently available at 8/1 with ToteSport and Bluesquare. Meanwhile, Swede Niclas Fasth is an eye-cathcing 55/1 with Extrabet despite opening with an excellent 66.